Page 5 of Dark Mafia Vows

I stride across the gleaming floor, the quiet click of my shoes echoing in the spacious hall. To my left, a pair of double doors stand open, offering a glimpse into the world of luxury inside—elegantly dressed guests laughing, sipping champagne, and mingling. With a quick adjustment of my suit jacket, I make my way toward the ballroom.

It’s extravagant, as expected, filled with rich colors and bright lights. Glittering chandeliers hang from the ceiling, casting a warm glow over the crowd. The air is filled with practiced laughter and the sound of glasses clinking together. Men in tailored suits and women in exquisite gowns parade their status as if it were a badge of honor.

I hate events like these.

They’re a cesspool of pretense and false pleasantries, with envy and rivalry cleverly hidden behind fake smiles and raised champagne glasses. But then again, I’ve long since grown used to it.

With my wealth, vast connections to countless businesses—including those I control—and my covert ties to the mafia, these gatherings serve as constant reminders of just how far I’ve come from nothing.

Still, there’s a purpose to nights like this. They’re perfect for gleaning information, catching tidbits of loose lips fueled by too much champagne, and cornering slippery business partners who think they can outmaneuver me.

That’s exactly why I’m here tonight.

My eyes sweep the room as a waiter passes by with a tray of champagne flutes. I snatch one, the bubbling liquid fizzingagainst my lips as I scan the crowd. It doesn’t take long to spot him.

Across the room, standing by a grand piano, Esteban Torres holds court, surrounded by four men. As always, he’s dressed in overpriced dark clothes, looking smug as hell. He says something that makes the others laugh, and a familiar wave of anger pulses through me. The spineless bastard wouldn’t even be in this room if it weren’t for me.

As I make my way through the crowd, a few heads turn, watching with curiosity. My eyes stay locked on Esteban, the conniving snake who thinks he can cheat me and walk away unscathed. Men like he reminds me why I don’t trust easily.

The moment he spots me, I watch his smile falter a bit before he manages to cover it up with an obnoxious grin.

“Dario De Luca,” he greets, his voice slick and oily, as if he’s trying too hard to mask his nerves. “Didn’t expect to see you at one of these events.”

I flash him a cold smirk. “Ah, Esteban Torres. I didn’t expect you to have the balls to try and outsmart me, especially after last year.”

He grimaces but keeps that cocky smile on his face. “You can’t hold last year over me forever, Dario. Sure, you helped my business during a rough patch, and I thanked you for it. It’s just business. Dark days come with the territory. Not everyone’s walking around thinking they’re some messiah. The underdogs have to rise too, don’t you think?”

I take a step closer, my voice dropping to a venomous growl. “Helped your business? Isavedyour entire family from being swallowed whole. You were bleeding out, circling the drain of bankruptcy, and I poured money into your sinking ship. And what did you do? You had the audacity to rewrite our deal behind my back like some rat scurrying around in the dark. You don’t fuck me over, Esteban. Not if you want to stay breathing.”

His jaw clenches, the bravado cracking just a little. The men around us exchange uneasy glances before retreating like the spineless sycophants they are, eager to avoid getting caught in the fallout.

“How dare you embarrass me like this?” He chuckles bitterly, trying to mask his fear. “Did you think I’d grovel at your feet just because you threw me a lifeline? You didn’t even help me. It was all just business to you. You, Dario De Luca, are a selfish bastard. You only invest in what serves you in the long run.” His lips curl into a smirk again, as if there was something he knew that I didn’t.

I look down at his shorter stature, a dark satisfaction curling in my gut.

“You should know better than to toy with me, Esteban.” I click my tongue, pressing down on his shoulder with an iron grip. “I built you up from nothing, and I can tear you down just as easily. You know exactly how ruthless I can be.”

“You can’t do shit to me,” he spits, trying to shrug my hand off his shoulder. “The new contract terms are already in place. There’s nothing you can do now.”

I can’t help but chuckle. He really doesn’t know what’s coming to him, which is only going to make this more fun for me.

I tighten my grip on his shoulders, my blunt fingers digging through the material of his tuxedo until I feel his shoulder blades tense against my hand. For a brief second I see a flicker of fear in his eyes, and satisfaction flares up in me.

With a dark smile, I lean in closer, enjoying the moment. “You have until the end of the week to fix this, or I’ll make you pay in ways you can’t even imagine. By the time I’m done, you’ll be begging me to just kill you.”

My threat hangs in the thick air between us as I grab a hold of his other shoulder with my free hand, squeezing hard enough that he winces in pain. There’s pleasant chatter and soft musicin the background, and to other people watching, we might just look like two friends having a conversation.

“Do we understand each other?” My tone is calm, but my eyes blaze with rage.

Despite the beads of sweat forming along the creases of his forehead, he spits, “Do your worst. I’m not backing down.”

I chuckle at his bravado. Surely, money is a confidence booster for fools.

“Good. I prefer it that way. See you soon, Esteban.”

With one final, mocking pat on his shoulder, I turn to leave. My steps halt abruptly when I spot my old friend Lorenzo. Standing right beside him is my spitfire.

I’m unable to turn away. I don’twantto turn away. With them standing side by side, I notice the resemblance in their facial features. It’s unmistakable. They’ve got that same jawline, chin, nose, and lips...

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